KASHI AZOBC is a multi-strian bacterial consortium developed by ICAR–Indian institute of vegetable research, Varanasi for facilitating on-farm application of biofertilizers by the farmers to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers. The product is designed to deliver three major nutrient functions, the biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization and potassium mobilization through a single formulation produced as per the Fertilizer (Control) Order 1985 specifications. Because a potassium mobilizer is built into the consortium itself, no separate K-biofertilizer need be applied alongside it. This consortium is being produced and supplied by the ICAR-IIVR in three formats, liquid, talc powder and granule, so that the farmer can choose whichever suits the plant nursery, the growing crop, and the soil itself.
The consortium comprises an Azotobacter sp. that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, produces siderophores and growth-promoting phytohormones; Bacillus subtilis (strain IIVRBT-1) that solubilizes both inorganic and organic soil phosphorus and Paenibacillus sp. (strain IIVRBS-10) that mobilizes potassium and additionally activates soil zinc. The three organisms act complementarily in the rhizosphere, so that a single application addresses N, P, and K needs of the plants all together.
The liquid formulation, KASHI AZOBC-L, is an aqueous suspension carrying a CFU count of 5.01×108 per mL. It is recommended to be used at 10 mL per kg of seed for seed treatment, at 10 mL per litre of water for root or seedling dip, and at 2–3 litres per acre for soil application. It is the most versatile of the three formats and is suited to drip application and soil drenching. The talc powder formulation carries 5×108 CFU per gram.
For seed treatment, it is recommended for application at a rate of 10 g per kg of seed, for root dip, 10 g per litre of water, and for soil application, the rate is 3–4 kg per acre. The powder product is particularly convenient for nursery beds and for seed treatment. The granular formulation carries 5×108 CFU per gram. Granules carrying the microbial consortia are meant solely for soil application at 4–5 kg per acre through basal broadcast and mechanized application over larger areas.
Soil application is recommended to be done by thoroughly mixing the product with 4-5 quintals of well-decomposed farmyard manure or vermicompost per acre and incorporating the mixture into the top layer of moist soil seven to ten days before sowing or transplanting. All three formulations carry a shelf life of one year from the date of packing. They should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. It is recommended that all forms should never be used together with fungicides, bactericides or chemical pesticides. For the best response, three concomitant treatments should be given in sequence, seed treatment, followed by root treatment at the time of transplanting, and then soil application along with the compost. The complete package gives a markedly better result than any single treatment used alone.
KASHI AZOBC can be applied to minimize recommended chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium dose by almost 20-25 percent, which may be substituted where agronomic practices are sound and organic matter is adequate to save substantial amount of money. The consortium promotes root proliferation and seedling vigour and improves faster establishment of roots after transplanting. Trials conducted at ICAR-IIVR farms and in the farmer’s fields on tomato, brinjal, chilli and pea have shown improved fruit quality, including higher flavonoid, carotenoid and ascorbic acid content. Upon successive applications in the soils over the seasons,the product can enhance rhizosphere microbial activity and organic matter turnover, and so, it is fully suited to organic and natural farming systems. It is compatible with farmyard manure, vermicompost and other biofertilizers. Farmers are being encouraged to adopt all three practices than choosing a single application.
(Source: ICAR–Indian institute of vegetable research, Varanasi)
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